Nylon film with improved slip characteristics and process therefor

Abstract

A process is disclosed for the manufacture of nylon packaging film having improved slip characteristics. In the process a homogeneous mixture is formed from a film-forming nylon resin and between 0.05 and 1.0 percent by weight thereof of a material selected from the group consisting of (1) secondary amides of the formula ##STR1## and (2) N, N' ethylene bis amides of the formula ##STR2## where R 1 and R 2 are aliphatic hydrocarbon chains of C 14 -C 22 . The homogeneous mixture is then extruded into film subsequently, the film is heated to a temperature between 40° C. and 150° C. for a period of 2 to 30 minutes in order to accelerate the development of improved film slip characteristics. The nylon film having improved slip characteristics is useful for the packaging of bacon and other processed meats.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A process for the manufacture of nylon film having improved slip characteristics which comprises the steps of (a) forming a homogeneous mixture of a film-forming nylon resin and between 0.05 and 1.0 percent by weight of the nylon resin of a material selected from the group consisting of (1) secondary amides of the formula ##STR9## and (2) N, N' ethylene bis amides of the formula ##STR10##  where R 1  and R 2  aliphatic hydrocarbon chains of C 14  -C 22  ; and     (b) melt extruding the mixture into film,   (c) and thereafter heating the film to a temperature between 40° C. and 150° C. for a period of from 2 to 30 minutes.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the nylon resin is selected from the group consisting of nylon 66, nylon 6, blends of nylon 66 and nylon 6 and copolymers of hexamethylene diamine adipate and ε-caprolactam and wherein the material is an N, N' ethylene bis amide selected from N, N' ethylene bis stearamide and N, N' ethylene bis oleamide.